Search For Fame Begins Once Again

MAGALY MORALES ON LATIN TELEVISION

The search for the next Latin music superstar got under way Sunday, when the third season of the reality competition Objetivo Fama (Objective: Fame) premiered on Telefutura.

Combining musical performances with the behind-the-scenes, non-scripted drama of a reality show, Objetivo: Fama has become one of the most popular TV shows on Spanish-language television, with last season's finale attracting more than 2 million viewers.

Mexican singer-actress Yuri was tapped to host this edition of the competition, which pits 20 contestants from around the United States in a battle for a recording contract with Univision Music and $25,000.

During the 14 weeks of competition, the finalists live together in a studio in Puerto Rico, where they take voice and dance lessons and perform onstage for judges selected from the entertainment industry -- all while being followed by TV cameras.

After each performance, the judges will nominate contestants for elimination, but it is the TV audience who ultimately selects the winner, casting votes via phone and text message.

Throughout the competition, Objetivo Fama (7 p.m. Sundays on WAMI-Ch. 69) will feature live performances by guest stars.

Host leaves Academia: Another talent show making news is La Academia USA (USA Academy), with the surprising recent departure of its iconic host. La Academia USA is a franchise of the popular TV Azteca reality show airing on Azteca AmM-irica.

Alan Tacher, who hosted this and the four Mexican editions of the reality star-search competition, is a partner of Nostromo Group, the company that produces the shows. When agreements couldn't be reached between Nostromo and TV Azteca about the production of another talent show, the companies parted ways. Argentinean Fernando del Solar has been tapped as the new host.

In statements to the media, MartM-mn Luna, Azteca Studio's director, said Giorgio Aresu, Tacher's partner in Nostromo, left La Academia USA due to a disagreement about the producer selected by TV Azteca to oversee the production of the talent show DesafM-mo de Estrellas (Challenge of the Stars).

He explained that the disagreement came up because Aresu didn't want Eva Borja, a former Nostromo Group employee, to be in charge of the production of the new show, even though she has not been part of Nostromo for more than two months.

Luna made it clear that while Aresu will not be with them in any other project, Azteca's doors will be always open to Tacher, so he could return to host the fifth generation of La Academia.

Martinez on morning show: Karla MartM-mnez has been chosen the new co-host of UnivisiM-sn's morning show, Despierta AmM-irica (Wake Up America).

Magaly Morales writes for Tribune Media Services. She can be reached at 954-717-4154 or Mmorales_LatinTV@Comcast.net.